PERC 2019 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | The Second Dimension of the FCI is Mostly Medieval |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | In order to measure students' physics beliefs prior to instruction, we applied two-dimensional Item Response Theory (2DIRT) to all 150 pre-instruction responses to the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) with N = 17000. Examination of Item Response Curves (fraaction selecting a response vs raw score) showed an absence of random guessing because students scoring below chance overall coalesced on only one or two distractors. One dimension of 2DIRT corresponded to Newtonian ability. The second dimension corresponds closely to the number of frequently selected responses whose response curves maximized at intermediate raw score, over a dozen in total. These responses embodied known commonsense physics ideas, most frequently the Medieval concept of impetus. The lowest Newtonian skill students selected a wider range of "wronger" responses. The ability to measure the detailed misconceptions of individual students or classes will allow development and application of instructional interventions for those specific misunderstandings. In general classes with intermediate FCI scores believe in impetus in one or more of its guises. |
| Abstract Type: | Symposium Poster |
| Parallel Session: | Learning by Analyzing More Than Just Correct Answers |
| Session Time: | Parallel Sessions Cluster I |
| Room: | Cascade C |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
John Stewart MIT |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Angel Perez Lemonche, John Stewart, Byron Drury, Rachel Henderson, Alex Shvonski |
